Eternal Fire

Chapter 26

Tonight was the Dragon Festival. I stood in front of my mirror feeling somewhat self conscious. The outfit was amazing. It's just my confidence seemed to be lacking tonight. I did a fish tail braid for me hair and did my makeup a little dark to go with the outfit. Jocelyn did an amazing job bringing Mirio's idea to life.

There was a knock on the door before Joseph was coming in. He gave a whistle, "Damn you're looking good. Azazel is going to be one busy man keeping the others off of you." I scoffed when I rolled my eyes, "Ever since the invitations were passed out and he got his, he's been avoiding me." I had to find out he had been invited when I saw it in his bag yesterday. It pissed me off he didn't want to talk to me about it. I tried, but he simply told me he didn't have time to talk about it and walked away.

"Azazel was invited," He asked, not knowing. I nodded, "I was shocked too. I tried congratulating him, but he didn't seem to care. Then he blew me off! I tried talking to him this morning about what his problem was, but he shrugged it off." I sighed, "Tonight and the next couple of days, are all about celebrating. I will deal with my boyfriend issue later." He nodded and we left my room. Now was the moment of truth, will the full fledged warriors approve? I came down the stairs and saw many of the guys talking and laughing. I even saw Mirio off to the side. He had no expression regarding his feelings towards tonight's festivities, but that's normal with him. I don't think he knew how to smile.

I looked around the room and jumped when I felt a hand on my waist. I looked and saw Azazel. He dipped his head so his lips were even with my ear, "You look beautiful." I smiled softly, "Thank you." I looked at him and he sighed, "I know I've been avoiding you, but I will explain it later." I nodded, trusting him.

We then went out to meet the warriors by the bonfires. The gathering was very impressive, most of the students lost amongst them. I was approached by Commander Alec, "Very interesting Ms. Norse." I nodded, "Its designed after the Ragior women's clothing." He nodded with a small smile, "Good work. Now let's drink."

For hours we drank and celebrated. Some students couldn't handle their liquor and the full warriors cracked jokes at them. I noticed Azazel stayed close and didn't down the drinks like many of the others. Neither did Mirio for that matter. When many were too plastered to notice, Azazel and I slipped into the woods nearby, stopping just inside where we can still see the party. "What's wrong," I asked him when I saw his serious expression.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the invitation. It's not that I didn't want too, because I truly did. It's that with each passing day, you start to smell more and more like a Demon. However, to most, the scent may seem odd since it's not often we smell a Demon, but for me, it makes me want to drink your blood, consequences be damned," he told me in a rush, but I still heard him word for word. "I have been avoiding you, so I don't do something stupid and accidentally imprint myself to you." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration that was starting to become long once more. "Being so close to you is almost agonizing, but being away is even more so." "What do you want to do," I asked him, having a bad feeling on where this was going.

"Batair thinks it's best I stop seeing you, for our safety," he said, causing my heart to drop into my stomach. "And what do you think is best," I asked him. "To do what makes me happy," He replied, giving me some slight hope. He then cupped my cheek and kissed my forehead, "I'm not going anywhere." I relaxed into him after that. "However, I did tell Mirio and Joseph, in case I reach the point I can't control myself."

If I was a sane person, I probably would've broken it off with him in order to ensure I stayed safe, but my life lately has been filled with insanity, and my boy friend wanting to drink my blood didn't sound all that insane at the moment. I took his hand, "We'll take it one day at a time." With that we went back to party.